Nevada County picayune., 1887-09-29
THE RAILROAD BRIDGE,

passenger in the ship Tempest. bound to Harve, at which port he arrived in due course of time.
 Among other passengers there Was beautiful Swiss girl, whose name Harry learned was Mary Lorme. My friend had ventured once or twice to address the maid. ell, but her timid, modest half frightened manner seemed to re. pei an intimate acquaintanceship. She had informed the young man, however, that she had been to New York to assist female cous. in engaged in the dry goods busi- ness; that soon after her arrival there, her relative had died, large ly in debt, wherenpOn Mary had concluded to return home 70 her father, who, in spite of severe ill. ness, had, in accordance with an by letter, come to Di- jon with the old family coach to wait for her. Having learned this much, Harry took d great interest in tine girl, and felt almost bound to act the knight for one in her lonely, defenceless condition.
 When the boat which, among other passengers, contained her and him, struck the landing, liar. ry politely offered to carry the fair ones carpet bag. She thanked him with her usual sweet smile. He took the bag, and the young couple entered the diligence which was to carry them to Paris.
 There they finally arrived, ten too late for that days train. The travellers were informed, how. ever, that there was another train at station fifteen miles distant, preparing to start in five hours.
 "Is there no conveyance to that place?' querIied Harry.
 He was answered in the mega tive.
 II must go on.n exclaimed Mary. My father, l am afraid is very sick. l must see him as soon as 1 can"
 Fifteen miles is a long distance to walk" said Harry.
 "Not for me-" answered Mary "The Swiss, you know, are great walkers; have been brought up to it almost from in' fancy"
 As her soft, pleading eyes seem eel to say, ''you must go with me" Harry could not resist the appeal
 They started, moving along the railroad, for there was no other way. When they same to log or a rut, Harry would extend his hand and assist his pretty compan' ion, when, with asmile and a shake of his head, she would leap over the obstruction as nimbly as a fawn.
 They had proceeded about ten miles, when they saw the sun go down behind a range of blue hills in the distance. The two were now moving along high bridge raised upon spiles about two hun. dred feet from the earth, which beneath it, was rock and inun- dated here and there by foaming torrents
 Ahead of them the travellers that for distance of about one hundred yards there were no cross blanks between the rails. Therefore, in order to trav- erse this space, Mary and her com panion must walk upon the track. Unfortunately the track was not very broad, yet person of steady balance, capable of maintaining his self-possession, in spite of the abyss on each side Of him, might occasionally derive from the beam projecting outward several inches beyond each side of the track, which was riveted upon 1t.
 Frail support this, however, with those jagged rocks two hundred feet below, ready to receive the adventurer who should make the slightest mis- step.
 Harry paused, looked at h's fan friend and shuddered.
 "We had better turn about, said he.
 Are you atraid" she softly in ouired. Then as his cheek gloweo my sake, l meanw